Single men moved to Manus Island

A GROUP of single men has been transferred to the makeshift detention centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

The 26 men, mostly from Afghanistan, arrived at Manus Island on Saturday, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship said.

It is the seventh transfer of irregular maritime arrivals to Manus and brings the number of asylum seekers on the island to 181. The men were accompanied by Australian Federal Police, interpreters, and medical and immigration staff.

The government reopened the Howard-era facility as part of an offshore processing regime it embraced in August following recommendations from the Houston expert panel on asylum seekers.

The centre is expected to hold about 600 people on completion.

AAP

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